Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

This has been a matter for a commission working independently under the chairmanship of a judge, so that there cannot be any interference from the political process and lest there might be allegations of attempted gerrymandering or whatever else. I understand that wherever one draws a line based on population movements can cause difficulties and that where some towns or counties are split people feel very aggrieved that they might not have the opportunity to elect a Deputy, or Deputies. The people in Leitrim were very upset, as were the people in areas of north County Dublin and in other parts of the country. As Deputy Higgins is aware, wherever one starts, there is a roll-on effect. I do not intend to interfere in any way with the process that has been accepted democratically here of an entirely independent commission made up of people of repute who have no political association or bias to do the job.

In respect of the convention, I do not want to make any announcement about it before the presidential election and the two referenda that are taking place so that nobody will be confused about what the constitutional convention is to do. If Members wish, after the presidential election and the two referenda, I will hold consultations with the leaders of the Opposition, take their views, allow the Government form its view and publish our proposals. Or, if Members prefer, I can do it the other way round and let the Government announce its recommendations here and allow comment on those. That is a matter we can talk about.

Members should understand that the programme for Government contains a commitment to have a constitutional convention. There are a number of other issues also set out, including the review of the Dáil electoral system, which will take into account the issue mentioned by Deputy Higgins; reducing the term of the office of the Presidency from seven years to five years - my view is that the term should coincide with the European and local elections, which are now fixed five-year periods - provision for same sex marriage; the broadening of the reference in the Constitution to the role of women in the home to one which recognises the role of the parent in the home; removing "blasphemy" from the Constitution; the possible reduction in the voting age; and any other relevant constitutional amendment that might be recommended by the convention. The convention will also be asked to look at giving citizens the right to vote at Irish embassies in presidential elections.

Work has been under way for some time on the preparation of detailed proposals for the establishment of the convention. These will address the status and independence of the convention, its terms of reference, its structure and make up, selection methods - particularly in regard to citizen participation North and South - and the convention's working methods, timetable and budget.

A number of other suggestions for inclusion were also made. The Ombudsman wrote to me to suggest the convention should consider putting her office, the Office of the Ombudsman, into the Constitution, similar to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. The president of the Human Rights and Equality Commission wrote to me, the Tánaiste and to the Minister for Justice and Equality to suggest that the convention should take into account human rights standards. In addition, a Sinn Féin Private Members' motion in the Seanad in October 2011 supports the extension of voting rights in presidential elections to all Irish citizens in the Six Counties as well as to citizens living and working abroad, subject to conditions set out in law. These are all issues that can be discussed by the convention.

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